Graham Potter, West Ham’s manager, is determined to build a lasting legacy following a difficult start. Despite past challenges, he led the team to 14th place last season. As they face Sunderland, Potter stresses player focus and hinted adjustments but emphasized that his primary focus remains on the players and their preparedness. Sunderland returns to the Premier League with new signings. Key players to watch include Sunderland’s Wilson Isidor and West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen. Opta predicts a 43.3% chance of a West Ham victory.
As the Premier League season looms, Graham Potter, the manager of West Ham United, is expressing his firm resolve to establish a lasting legacy at the club. This declaration comes after a somewhat rocky commencement to his tenure at the London Stadium. Having assumed the managerial role in January, succeeding Julen Lopetegui, Potter faced an uphill battle, securing only a single victory in his initial six matches, followed by an uncharacteristic eight-game winless streak.
Despite these early tribulations, the experienced 50-year-old managed to steer the Hammers to a 14th-place finish at the end of the previous season, a feat largely attributed to crucial away victories against formidable opponents like Manchester United and Ipswich Town. With the approaching season opener against Sunderland, Potter has hinted at potential behind-the-scenes adjustments but emphasized that his primary focus remains on the players and their preparedness.
"The core responsibility of the coach is to build something of substance," Potter stated with conviction. "It involves a relentless pursuit to improve the team's performance, elevate the club's stature, and enhance the individual skills of the players. That's the essence of the challenge."
Acknowledging the previous season's shortcomings, Potter noted, "I don't believe we need drastic, sweeping changes. It's tempting to assume that the solution lies solely in external factors, but from my perspective, the primary focus should always be on nurturing the existing players while keeping an eye on strategic improvements."
He further elaborated on the team's defensive vulnerabilities, stating, "If you reflect on the 12-month period leading up to Lopetegui's departure, the team had conceded an alarming number of goals, which suggests that something wasn't quite right on a cultural or foundational level within the squad."
"Addressing these issues was a central part of our efforts last season. While we made tangible progress, the pre-season provides a valuable opportunity to further solidify these improvements, which I believe we have successfully done," Potter added.
Meanwhile, Sunderland is poised to make their highly anticipated return to the Premier League, marking their first appearance in the division since the 2016-17 season. The Black Cats have been notably active during the summer transfer window, bolstering their squad with 11 new signings. Among these are seasoned midfielder Granit Xhaka, as well as promising talents Simon Adingra and Reinildo Mandava.
Head coach Regis Le Bris acknowledges that integrating the new players and forging a cohesive unit will require time, especially after securing just two victories in their eight pre-season games. However, he remains optimistic, emphasizing the "positive" atmosphere surrounding the team.
"While we are aware that we need time, the reality is that we don't have an abundance of it. Immediate performances are essential," Le Bris admitted.
"The integration process is ongoing, but the underlying energy is undeniably positive. We recognize that the challenge ahead is formidable, but overcoming it will be of paramount importance," he added.
"Our collective unity, unwavering intensity, and resolute desire to represent Sunderland will be vital assets in our pursuit of success," Le Bris concluded.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Sunderland – Wilson Isidor
Wilson Isidor emerged as Sunderland's leading goal scorer in the Championship the previous season, netting an impressive 13 goals, a feat that also placed him among the top five highest scorers in the English second division.
The 24-year-old showcased his scoring prowess during their pre-season campaign, finding the net in a convincing 4-0 victory over non-league South Shields. However, he was subsequently sidelined for the next five games due to an injury. Encouragingly, Isidor managed to play 68 minutes in their final friendly match against Rayo Vallecano, signaling his return to fitness.
West Ham – Jarrod Bowen
Jarrod Bowen continues to be a pivotal figure for West Ham, demonstrating his scoring ability by finding the net 13 times in 34 league games last season, while also providing eight assists.
Notably, Bowen concluded the 2024-25 Premier League season with a remarkable scoring streak, finding the net in each of his last four appearances. He now has the opportunity to become the first West Ham player to score in five consecutive Premier League games since Jesse Lingard achieved the feat in April 2021.
MATCH PREDICTION – WEST HAM WIN
Historically, Sunderland has struggled against West Ham, particularly since their relegation from the top flight in 2017. The Black Cats are currently winless in their last eight league encounters against the Hammers, with their most recent meeting ending in a 2-2 draw in April 2017.
Sunderland's record on Premier League opening days has also been less than stellar, failing to secure a victory in any of their last seven seasons.
Regis Le Bris's appointment as head coach marks him as the ninth Frenchman to manage a club in the Premier League. Historically, just two of the previous eight French managers have managed to win their first-ever match in the competition – Arsene Wenger with Arsenal in October 1996 and Alain Perrin with Portsmouth in April 2005.
West Ham boasts a favorable record against newly-promoted sides, having won each of their previous three opening-day matches against such teams.
Moreover, Potter's side concluded the 2024-25 season with consecutive Premier League away victories, a feat they only managed once throughout the entire season. Their last three consecutive away wins in the league date back to October 2021.
However, it's worth noting that West Ham has lost their opening match of a Premier League season more times than any other side (16), and they have also conceded more MD1 goals than any other team (50).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Sunderland – 30.3%
Draw – 26.4%
West Ham – 43.3%